(National Sentinel) Set-up: Retiring Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California has laid waste to the U.S. attorney’s office for its last-minute charges against fellow California Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter and his wife over allegations he filed false reports to the Federal Election Commission while improperly using campaign funds for personal use.

In addition to defending his long-time friend and colleague, Issa said the U.S. attorney in the case, Adam Braverman — who, ironically, was appointed by AG Jeff Sessions in November 2017 — was committing “political misconduct” for sitting on evidence until after California’s primaries.

That’s a problem because under the state’s primary rules, it’s not likely that Hunter can be replaced on the ballot,CBS Newsreported:

Issa says he finds the timing of the Hunter indictment suspicious, given that it was issued after the California primary had taken place. Under the state’s “jungle” primary system, the top two candidates — regardless of party — proceed to the general election, making it difficult to replace a candidate on the ballot, should that individual drop out after advancing from the primary to the November election. Hunter, the incumbent in the 50th Congressional District, attracted the most votes, and Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar also advanced.

“I believe that the assistant U.S. attorney has totally screwed us….I believe that this is political misconduct by the assistant U.S. attorney, and I believe it simply because all deadlines, as far as I know, as far as I’ve been told, have passed,” Issa said.

“So now you have an accusation that could sink anyone, when in fact, this same information…I didn’t see anything that hasn’t been there for years,” he added, accusing Braverman of withholding the information purposely for months.

“I don’t know how you make any kind of sense other than he sat on it for most of three years and certainly the last year,” Issa said.

“As far as I know, we’ve got no legal way for Duncan to get off the ballot and somebody else to get on. As far as I know, that’s where we stand.”

Issa, whose district borders that of Duncan’s, said he has no interest in running again but that he would if it meant keeping the seat in the hands of the GOP.

“The important question that we don’t have an answer to, but I’m pretty sure of the answer, is — can he get off the ballot if he chose to and can anyone else get on the ballot? And I think the answer in California is no to both,” Issa said, CBS News reported.

“You kind of have a situation in which, we have to assume that he would like to use his campaign funds, [to] continue to defend himself.”

Issa said that Republican Party lawyers in the state are looking into whether or not Hunter’s name can be replaced on the ballot, but he’s not optimistic.

And though Braverman — if that’s who Issa is referring to (CBS News wasn’t clear on this point) — was appointed by Sessions, there’s nothing that says he’s not a #NeverTrumper at heart.

One saving grace: Hunter says he’s innocent and will fight the charges and will continue to run for a seat he was expected to win easily.Because of his popularity and wide margin of victory, it’s quite possible that the only way Hunter leaves office is if he’s found guilty — and the Justice Department will have to prove that first.

Isn’t it amazing that now, as we head into the 2018 midterms where Democrats once claimed they were going to win in a “blue wave,” Republican lawmakers are getting indicted by Sessions’ Justice Department?

This is the same Sessions-run Justice Department that can’t seem to find any evidence whatsoever of Obama Deep State criminal activity and corruption, despite it existing in abundance.

What a tragic mistake it was for POTUS Trump to nominate him.

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